Dolphins

Fins Begin Pursuit Of Matt Flynn

GREEN BAY, WI – JANUARY 01: Matt Flynn #10 of the Green Bay Packerslooks for a receiver as Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions rushes at Lambeau Field on January 1, 2012 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Lions 45-41. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Miami Dolphins

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – As the possibility of signing Peyton Manning continue to dwindle for the Miami Dolphins, some attention is starting to turn towards free agent quarterback Matt Flynn.

The former Packer is set to visit the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night and into Friday, but is also said to be in negotiations with the Fins.

Cleveland was thought to be pursuing Flynn, but the Browns are not after Flynn, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Flynn, a former seventh-round pick out of LSU spent the last four years under the tutelage of Joe Philbin, new Dolphins head coach, and current Green Bay Packers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Unlike Brett Favre, Rodgers took Flynn under his wing and taught him and worked with the young QB.

Flynn has started two games over the past two years, but when he got his opportunity, he made the most of it.

Last season, Flynn started against the Detroit Lions and was 31-44 for 480 yards, 6 touchdowns, and one interception in a crucial victory for the Packers.

In 2010, Flynn started for an injured Aaron Rodgers against the New England Patriots. In the Week 15 game, he was 24-37 for 251 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.

The Packers lost, but it wasn’t due to Flynn’s play in the game.

Flynn stands 6’2” and weighs 225 pounds and is not the most athletic quarterback you will find. His arm strength isn’t on the same level as Rodgers, Manning, or Brady; but he is very accurate, much in the same way Chad Pennington was for the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.

Flynn’s arm is stronger than Pennington, but there’s also a reason why he was seventh-round draft pick just a few years ago.

Still, he’s also a leader who has taken a team to a championship at LSU and he has a Super Bowl ring with the Packers.

The Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins are leading the charge for Flynn, who some believe could command a salary in the neighborhood of $8 million per season.

While that number is high, young free agent quarterbacks are often times overpaid.

The biggest question is will Flynn be more Matt Hasselbeck or Scott Mitchell. Both were backups when they were signed to big contracts, but only Hasselbeck ever amounted to anything the NFL.